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Published By Your City Hall |
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 Coos Bay is and has been my home going on 44 years. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to own and operate a successful business here for 38 of those years. I firmly believe that Coos Bay is a great place to live, work, and raise a family! I am honored to serve as your Mayor and to be able to work with a great group of dedicated fellow citizens on the City Council who collectively work together, aside City staff, to fulfill the City mission, “…to work as a stable, progressive municipality to enhance the quality of life for all citizens through a government that is accessible to everyone and dedicated to the development of a diversified economy, sound fiscal planning and the preservation and enhancement of the cultural, historical and natural beauty of our area.”
We have a diverse community, which is comprised of people with varied thoughts, beliefs, lifestyles, cultures, ethnicities, political affiliations, etc. Sonia Sotomayor, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, is credited with saying that, “The dynamism of any diverse community depends not only on the diversity itself, but on promoting a sense of belonging among those who formerly would have been considered and felt themselves outsiders.”
Back in July of 2020, the City Council adopted a resolution supporting diversity, equity and inclusion within the community of Coos Bay, which in substance, listed that I and the Council celebrate our community’s diversity and welcome all residents who live, work, and visit here. In mid-2021, a citizen requested that the Council consider allowing a Pride Flag to be flown down at the Coos Bay Boardwalk during and in recognition of Pride Month which is acknowledged as the month June. While the Council was interested in supporting the request, there was concern as the City lacked a policy or criteria for processing a request like this. In addition, there was apprehension that if one commemorative flag was allowed, would we be required to allow all?
The City Attorney was asked to investigate and provide a legal opinion. His research showed that other cities have a commemorative flag policy and that under the government speech doctrine, the argument is made that so long as the City is the one making the speech, the City can control the speech. He further shared that the Supreme Court recognizes that under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, a City has the right to express its positions regarding certain issues, without opening the door for similar expression rights extended to others on the same or some other issue. To act under the government speech doctrine, the City Attorney advised that the Council should adopt a policy wherein a member of the City Council can initiate a request to display a commemorative flag with the Council as a whole approving the request (or denying the request).
The Council later adopted a Council Flag Policy, and in May of this year a Council member asked the Council to consider allowing the Pride flag to be flown for the month of June at the Boardwalk. The Council approved the request, and the flag was flown. Shortly thereafter, the Council received requests from citizens from this community, and other communities, to consider requests to display flags including the Christian flag, the Gadsden flag, Pro Life flag, United Kingdom flag, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics flag, etc. One person alleged that the Council’s 2021 adopted policy might be in violation of a recent Supreme Court ruling (Harold Shurtleff v. City of Boston). In response, the Council chose to place a moratorium on the Council Flag Policy to allow the City Attorney to further analyze recent related court cases and provide the Council a legal opinion.
At our most recent City Council meeting, the Council revisited the matter. It was obviously a topic of concern for many, as the Council Chamber was full of citizens from all over the county. Public comments were accepted and many shared their thoughts and desires. Most comments focused on two flags, the Christian flag and the Pride flag, by those for and against each. One person promised there would be a lawsuit if the Council didn’t either fly all flags or only government flags. The City Attorney provided his review and legal opinion as to the Shurtleff v. City of Boston (Shurtleff) decision and its impacts on the Council’s Flag Policy. In substance, he shared that facts in the Shurtleff case were factually dissimilar to the facts of Coos Bay’s policy. Boston didn’t have a policy but did have a long-standing practice of allowing all flags to be flown on a city-owned flagpole with the one exception of a request to display the Christian flag. While he believed the Council’s Flag Policy was defensible, it was his opinion that the Council should respectfully decline to fly any flag on its flagpole that has a religious connotation or message as to do so would likely create a First Amendment issue. The City Manager shared that based on a conversation with the City’s insurer, a legal challenge to the Council’s Flag Policy in most cases wouldn’t be covered under our insurance policy, which could create litigation that would be expensive and could take years to resolve.
As shared by Councilor Kilmer during her comments on the topic, decision making is not always easy. Such is the case with this issue. Here we have a legal opinion that our policy allowing governmental free speech is defensible but may expose the City to a legal challenge with financial liability to its taxpayers for a costly legal battle. Some on the Council believed that implementation of the policy has proved to be more divisive amongst the community, rather than creating inclusiveness. Ultimately, the Council chose to keep a moratorium on allowing display of non-governmental flags on city-owned flag poles. There are other ways the Council can show our support and promote the diversity of our community and I pledge to continue to do so.
-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay
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 The City of Coos Bay is seeking volunteers to fill positions on the Budget Committee, Planning Commission, and Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board. Applications are available from the City Manager’s Office at City Hall, requesting via email at administration@coosbay.org, or on the City’s website. Applications will be accepted in the City Manager’s Office through 5 p.m. January 20, 2023. Applicants will be contacted to schedule interviews with the City Council, potentially at the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting.
Budget Committee – The Budget Committee is comprised of the full seven-member City Council and an equal number of Coos Bay citizens. Qualified citizens are those who have resided within the city limits of Coos Bay for one year and legal elector for Coos Bay. Terms on the Budget Committee are for three years, with staggering of member terms. The Budget Committee typically meets annually, in the month of May. There are two expiring positions on the Budget Committee.
Planning Commission – The Planning Commission is comprised of the seven-members appointed by City Council. Eligible members shall have been residents of the city for at least one year, except that two members may reside outside the city limits but within Coos County, if they own property within city limits. The Planning Commission meets once a month, typically on the second Tuesday. There are currently two expiring positions on the Planning Commission, both four-year terms.
Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board – The City Council appoints two individuals to the Coos Bay/North Bend Water Board governing body with a four-year term of appointment, staggered by two years for each member. Interested applicants must be a resident of the City of Coos for one year prior to appointment. There is currently one appointed Water Board position expiring.
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Coos County Seeks Feedback on Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan
 The County and its incorporated cities and special districts, along with steering provided by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, have been working to update the Coos County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Before finalizing the document, the committee is seeking public comment on the draft document.
The full plan is available by clicking the button below:
To comment or provide corrections, please send an email to Coos Emergency Management emergencymanagement@co.coos.or.us or pamela.reber@dlcd.oregon.gov
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Fire Department Hosts ASHER Class
 Nationally, Fire and EMS services are increasingly being exposed to “high threat” scenarios such as violent crime, active shooter, bombings, and disaster response. Traditionally the assumption has been specially trained EMS or law enforcement personnel would deploy to treat and manage these incidents. However, a review of high threat incidents over the last ten years indicates the majority of patients generated by these incidents are being treated by the on-duty or volunteer responders.
To better prepare fire service personnel in Coos County, the Coos Bay Fire Department (CBFD) hosted an eight-hour class on January 3, 2023. The class, entitled “Active Violent Incident Response for First Responders” was taught by Deputy Chief Chris Heppel of Eugene/Springfield Fire Department. Participants in attendance represented seven agencies from the area. The class included instructor lead discussion, case-study reviews, and participation in tabletop exercises and scenarios.
While it is the hope of every community that they will never experience the senseless tragedy of such a horrific act of violence, it is better to prepare for the possibility rather than be forced to improvise during chaos. Twenty-six of our local first responders are better prepared as a result of this training. Plans are already underway for continued training to include supporting the police department in their active violent incident response training exercises.
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Annual Christmas Tree Disposal
With Christmas 2022 in our past and the new year just hours away, many in our community will spend this weekend undecking the halls and putting holiday decorations back into storage. But what do you do with the old Christmas tree? In effort to rid homes within the community of a potential fire hazard, both the Coos Bay and North Bend Fire departments will again be picking up Christmas trees within the city limits of Coos Bay and North Bend (respectively) on Saturday, January 7, 2023. The fire departments request that you place your tree near the curb before 8 a.m. There is no need to call and request removal of your tree as members of the fire department will pick up all trees that are placed near the curb.
 The collected trees will be brought to Les’ Sanitation. Most of the trees will be ground into mulch, but some will be utilized by ODFW for stream enhancement, bank stabilization and improving fish habitat.
The fire departments are providing this service at no cost but would appreciate a canned food donation. Donations received this year will be passed along to the South Coast Gospel Mission to further their work with individuals and families in our community that need assistance.
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Empire Dock Float Damage:
Removal During Winter is Recommended
 Early last year, the City of Coos Bay received grants from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB) which totaled $376,444 to purchase replacement floating dock sections for both the Empire and Eastside boat ramps. The City’s match to cover the cost of the new boat ramp floats was $30,000.
The new floats were recently received and installed. However, the force of the recent winter storm was so severe that several of the new floats at the Empire Boat Ramp were damaged (broken / cracked welds and ripped metal). City staff reached out to an Oregon State Marine Board engineer to evaluate the floats as they were built based on an OSMB approved engineering design.
An OSMB Engineer came to Coos Bay last week to conduct a visual evaluation. After the site visit, the Engineer recommended the City remove the floating docks at the Empire Boat Ramp for the winter to avoid further damage. He recommended that in the future the Empire Boat Ramp should be closed during the winter months due to the destructive wave action at that location in the bay. Other boat ramps including Eastside, Charleston, and North Bend (California Street) would remain in operation as they are more protected from the elements.
OSMB has been the principal funding source for upkeep and boat ramp improvements for many years. Their assistance and expertise are highly valued by the City. While the City would prefer not to take all of the floats out at the Empire Boat Ramp, we defer to OSMB Engineer’s recommendation.
It should also be noted that the wave boom (designed to lessen wave strength near the boat ramp) at the Empire Boat Ramp was also damaged in the recent storm. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for the wave boom to be damaged during winter storms, which is further evidence of the destructive elements in that area of the bay.
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 Celebrate the new year by stopping by the Marshfield Pioneer Cemetery on Sunday, January 8 for an informal guided tour and to learn about the new gravestone preservation initiative. Cemetery volunteers will be on hand with genealogical information, including the cemetery’s complete index of burials, and can provide assistance in locating graves. The following week, on Wednesday, January 11, join us at the Coos Bay Public Library to hear untold stories about some of the more overlooked people buried in the cemetery during this free lecture by Becky Soules.
For more information, please contact cbcemetery@gmail.com or 541-435-1177.
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CB Estuary Management Plan Efforts
The Partnership for Coastal Watersheds (PCW), which includes staff from Coos County, City of Coos Bay, City of North Bend, and Port of Coos Bay, has gone through an extensive process to evaluate the needs of the local governments and the community for the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan. Their past work included public meetings and an open house to share results from all of the data products that were created. The process was patterned from the original CBEMP workgroup setup in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. This effort has resulted in the development of an integrated assessment which was conducted with the assistance of the PCW steering committee, stakeholders representing, economic, socio-cultural, and natural resource protection interests, and public feedback from a previously held open house.
A public house will be held on January 7, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. at the North Bend Community Center, 2222 Broadway North Bend, OR to allow the public to learn about the products and process going forward.
If you have questions, please contact Coos County Community Development at 541-396-7770 or email planning@co.coos.or.us.
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 It’s time to apply for the Southwestern Oregon Community College (SWOCC) Foundation scholarship. The application is available at www.socc.edu/scholarships. Students planning to attend SWOCC during the 2023-24 academic year are encouraged to apply. Applications are due March 1, 2023 (no exceptions). EARLY BIRD INCENTIVE: submit your application by February 1 and qualify for an additional scholarship! For questions, email foundation@socc.edu or call 541-888-7209.
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HR Coordinator
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of full-time HR Coordinator. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office or by email at administration@coosbay.org. City applications are available from the City Manager’s Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420, by email at administration@coosbay.org. For full announcement and application packet, click button below.
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Administrative Coordinator
The City of Coos Bay is soliciting applications for the position of full-time Administrative Coordinator. To apply for the position, interested parties should submit a city application, resume, and letter of interest to the City Manager’s Office or by email at administration@coosbay.org. City applications are available from the City Manager’s Office, City Hall, 500 Central Avenue, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420 by email at administration@coosbay.org. For full announcement and application packet, click button below.
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